Just a few minute ago, the threat has been confirmed as a hoax. Jake J. Brahm of Wauwatosa, WI has been charged in the matter today, after being taken into custody on Wednesday. This from the Associated Press: An FBI official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is still under […]

UPDATE: Stadium dirty bomb threat not supported

Just a few minute ago, the threat has been confirmed as a hoax. Jake J. Brahm of Wauwatosa, WI has been charged in the matter today, after being taken into custody on Wednesday.

This from the Associated Press:

An FBI official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is still under investigation, told The Associated Press that the man acknowledged posting the phony stadium threat as part of a “writing duel” with a man from the Brownsville, Texas, area to see who could post the scariest threat.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security released a statement discounting a Web site that claimed seven football stadiums around the country would be targeted for dirty bomb attacks this Sunday, October 22.

On 16 October 2006, a posting on an English-language Web site said that “dirty” bombs, delivered in trucks, will be detonated outside stadiums at NFL games in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland, and Cleveland on 22 October. The content of the Web site, which requires registration to post, is sometimes crude and contains none of the hallmarks of jihadist Web sites. The threat appeared as part of a thread entitled “New Attack on America Be Afraid” that included a rambling conversation on a variety of topics.

On 12 October at 9:31 PM, a participant called “javness” posted comment #36 which contained the threat, which follows:

“On Sunday, October 22nd, 2006, there will be seven ‘dirty’ explosive devices detonated in seven different U.S. cities; Miami, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland and Cleveland. The death toll will approach 100,000 from the initial blasts and countless other fatalities will later occur as result from radioactive fallout. The bombs themselves will be delivered via trucks. These trucks will pull up to stadiums hosting NFL games in each respective city. All stadiums to be targeted are open air arenas, excluding Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, the only enclosed stadium to be hit. Due to the open air, the radiological fallout will destroy those not killed in the initial explosion. The explosions will be near simultaneous, with the cities specifically chosen in different time zones to allow for multiple attacks at the same time.

The 22nd of October will mark the final day of Ramadan as it would fall in Mecca. Al-Qaida will automatically be blamed for the attacks. ‘Later, through Al-Jazeera, Osama bin Laden will issue a video message claiming responsibility for what he dubbed “America’s Hiroshima.”

In the aftermath civil wars will erupt across the world, both in the Middle East and within the United States. Global economies will screech to a halt. General chaos will rule.

The Department of Homeland Security said it warned law-enforcement officials and the NFL earlier this week ”out of an abundance of caution,” but stressed that the Internet posting was “not credible.” Security in all stadiums increased after 9/11, but no additional measures will be enforced as a result of the current threat, according to NFL officials.

The Associated Press reports:

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said stadiums around the country “are very well protected through the comprehensive security procedures we have in place, including secure facility perimeters, pat-downs and bag searches.”

Several NFL teams and stadium owners acknowledged that they were in contact with federal officials, including the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates Giants Stadium, the home of the Jets and Giants. The NCAA, which oversees college athletics, said it was also notified.

Authorities traced the site’s Internet provider back to Voxel Dot Net Inc., which has support and engineering staff based in Troy, N.Y. A man who answered the phone at Voxel, who declined to give his name, said he was unaware of the posted threat on the Web site and refused further comment.

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